FARMER, HUGH, a learned dissenting mini ster, was born near Shrewsbury, 1714, and received the rudiments of his education in Llanegrin, Meri onethshire. He was afterwards placed under the care of Dr. Charles Owen, at 'Warrington, and in 173o, under Dr. Doddridge, at Northampton. Having finished his collegiate course, he became private chaplain to William Coward, Esq., and minister of a congregation in Walthamstow, which increased under his pastoral care from a mere handful to a numerous and influential community. In 1761 he was appointed afternoon preacher at Salter's Hall, and afterwards Tuesday lecturer in the same place. In the following year he re linquislied the former of these two offices ; eight years subsequently, the lattrr ; and finally, his pas tomte. He died, 1787, in the seventy-third year of his age. He was a diligent and laborious stu dent, and acquired vast stores of information on Biblical and other subjects. His works, which deserve and will repay perusal, are characterised by great ability and learningr, independent thought, and clearness of style. The principal of them are :—(1.) An b2quiry into the Nature ana' Design of Christ's Temptation in the Wilderness, 8vo, 1761; designed to prove that the temptation of nur Lord was not a real occurrence, but a divine vision.' (2.) A Dissertation on the Milneles, a'e
signed to shew that they are Arguments of a Divhze Interposition, and absolute Prooft of the Missthu and Doctrine of a Prophet, 8vo, 1761; in which questions relating to the Magicians of Egypt, the Witch of Endor, etc., are ably discussed, while it is maintained that diabolical agency has never, and zan never perform a miracle. (3.) An Essay on the Demoniacs of the New Testament, 8vo, of which a third edition appeared 1818 ; and in which he maintains that the demoniacs were either epileptic persons or madmen. (4.) The General Prevalence ty` the worship of Human Spirits in the Ancient Heathen 117alions asserted and proved, Svo, 1783. A clause in his will required that all his MSS. should be burned. Accordingly there perished in the flames, among the rest, a volume on the Demonology of the Ancients," A Dissertation on the History of Balaam,' and a second edition of his treatise on Miracles2—I. T.